Adjustable vise wrench



Feb..2 ,1926.

A. B. FAULKNER ADJUSTABLE vIsEvwRENcH Filed Dec. 19, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet Inv cantor Jrg/W46. FWZ/mw Feb. 2 1926.

A. B. FAULKNER ADJUSTABLE vrsi: WRENCH Filed nec. 1.9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 2, 1926.`

'Unirse srarss ARTHUR B. FAULKNER, OF WLLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE VISE WRENCH.

Application filed December 19, 1923. Serial No. 681,620.

To all 107mm, t 11m-y concern:

Be it known that I, Anfrirun B. FAUnKNnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Williamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain `new and useful improvements in Adjustable Vise Vllrenches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention. relates to wrenches of the type generally known as adjustable wrenches.

ltis well known that in using such wrenches as heretofore ordinarily constructed the jaws are liable to slip and become disengaged from a nut or other article clamped between the jaws by the usual clamping means, thus causing much trouble and annoyance in accomplishing the desire-d result.

The objects of my invention are to o-v-ercome these objections and provide a simple, efficient and durable wrench having in addition to the means ordinarily employed for adjusting the k movable jaw so as to bring the aws together and clamp a. nut or other article between the jaws, simple, efficient and reliable means acting independently of the usual adjusting means so as to easily and quickly tighten the grip of the aws upon the nut or other article and prevent the jaws from slipping off or becoming disengaged until released by said gripping means.

A further object is to provide a wrench of the character referred to with clamping means operable with one hand and adapted to exert a powerful force with little expenditure of energy in order to fasten the grip of the jaws upon a nut or other article, and to adapt the clamping means to easily and quickly automatically release the grip yof the jaws and permit the. removal of the wrench without the annoyance and trouble that is often experienced in using ordinary adjustable wrenches.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and then pointed outl in the claims at the end of the description.

ln said drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of is an edge or back view of the F ig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view showing jaws having their confronting surfaces serrated or provided with line teeth, similar' to a Stillson wrench, vfor use as a pipe wrench.

Referring to said drawings, in which the same reference characters are used to denote corresponding parts in different views, the letters A and Asl denote the jaws of an ordinary adjustable wrench, the aw A1 being slidably secured on the shank a of the relatively fixed jaw A, and B denotes the usual adjusting device or screw for bringing the jaws together, said screw being provided with an enlarged peripherally roughened head b for turning it t adjust the movable aw in the usual way. The shank a has rigidly secured thereto, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or formed integrally therewith, as shown in Fig. 5, a handle member C which is preferably substantially semicircular or trough-shaped in form and pro-- vided on the inner side thereof with an apertured or bifurcated lug or projection c, near the base of the handle or its junction with the shank, to form an abutment for one end of a spring D, the other end of which abuts against a nut (Z screwed on the free end of a rod Z1 carrying the spring; said rod passing through the lug c so as to adapt the spring toexert a force tending to pull the rod toward said lug. The rod Z1 is pivoted at its inner end to a rod or bar' Fi, which is preferably U-shaped or in the form of a yoke-the arms of which embrace a crosspiece F, and are ,secured at their free ends CTI to a` bearing member' G slidably mounted in an opening through the inner end or base of the rigid handle member C and having a socket therein to receive a pintle or stud g en the rear end of the screw B, so as to provide a bearing for the screw at that end, the other end of the screw being inserted in an interiorly threaded socket in the part el of the movable jaw as usual in adjustable wrenches. One end of the erosspi-ece F is inserted in a slot or hole in the handle member C, so as to provide a fulerum on which it may rock or tilt; the other end f1 thereof being arranged to engage a shoulder formed in a recessed end portion of an auxiliary handle member C1, which is pivotally mounted beside the handle member C and may be solid, though preferably trough-like in form, for lightness.

The cross-piece F is preferably recessed between its two arms to provide a seat for the pointed end of the bearing member Gr on which it may roel; or tilt in a forward direction under pressure of the auxiliary handle member' or the recoil of the spring which tends to hold the cross-piece in the position shown in Fig. 5 and through it held the auxiliary handle member normally in the inclined position also vshown in Fig. 5. rl`he head b of the screw B is held in a relatively fixed position, to prevent movement thereof in the direction of the axis of the screw, while permitting free rotary movement, by means of a slidable bracket Il having its end bent toward the screw so as to straddle the head t) with one end fitting in a groove in the bearing member G and the other end overlapping the head and resting upon a ila-nge or shouldered portion thereof so that longitudinal movement ofthe screw independently of the brac-liet is prevented while rotary movement thereof is permitted, for adjusting the movable jaw forward and bac-l; along the shank of the fixed jaw A.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, which is designed for a. small wrench with thin jaws, a rack-bar l is used to take the place of the adjusting screw shown in Figs. l and 5, and the bearing member shown in the last mentioned figures is omitted and in place thereof the rear end'of the rack is formed with an enlarged. and pointed end which seats against the tilting cross-piece in the manner and for the purpose described with reference to Figs. l' and 5. ln said modi tication the movable jaw is adjusted forward and back by means of a worm gear K which travels therewith, said gear being revolubly mounted in a socket formed in the base portion of the movable jaw, and a slight forward and back movement of the movable jaw independently of the Aworm gear and rack adjustment for tightening the grip of the jaws on a nut-or other article held between .the jaws, is accomplished by pressing the auxiliary handle member toward the rigid handle member in the manner hereinbefore described.

n Fig. 7 jaws are shown having tine teeth or serrations on their working faces to adapt the device for use as a pipe wrench.

The utility and advantages of my improvement over wrenches as heretofore ordinarily constructed are obvious. The eoacting pivoted handle member and associated parts provide 'a compound lever movement by which the user is enabled with one hand to easily and quickly tighten the grip of the jaws on a nut or other article, after it has been clamped between the jaws by manipulating the ordinary adjusting devicesy with the other hand, and with such power that it becomespractically impossible for the jaws to release their hold until the gripping device is released, this being accomplished quickly and automatically by the recoil of the spring, which retracts the movable jaw and simultaneously restores the lever member of the handle to normal position the instant the pressure thereon is removed.

In the form shown the slot or hole in the handle member C, in which one end of the cross-piece or lever F is inserted and has its fulcrum or bearing at that end, is directly opposite a shoulder c1 on the other handle member Cl, on which thel free end of said cross-piece has a bearing, and the bottom of the recess Vin said cross-piece forming a seat forthe pointed end of the sliding 'bearing member G, at the opposite side of said bearing points, is arranged directly in line with the two bearing points first mentioned, or in otherwords, there are two points of bearing on the back of saidcross-piece and an intermediate one on the front, all arranged directly in the same line, which arrangement is preferred, as it prevents any sliding motion. l I

It will be understood of course that various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit. and scope of my invention. y

Having thus described my invention, what I Claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the United States is l. An adjustable vise wrench cou/iprising in combination with an ordinary wrench having jaws and associated adjusting devices for bringing said jaws together, means for tightening the grip of the jaws consisting of a main handle member rigid with the shank of the wrench and an auxiliary handle member pivoted at one end beside andat an angle to said main handle member, and spring-actuated means and connections between the same and said adjusting devices tending to separate the jaws, said springactuated means and connections being arranged in the line of the longitudinal axis lOtl llt)

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store saidelement and pivoted handle mem-- ber to normal position when the pressure on the latter is released.

Q. An adjustable vise-'wrench comprising in con'ibination with an ordinary wrench having jaws and associated adjusting de` vices t'or bringing said jaws together, means for tightening the grip of the jaws consisting o't`a main handle member rigid with the shank of the wrench and an auxiliary handle member pivoted at one vend beside and at an angle to said main handle member, and spring-actuated means and connections between the same and said adjusting devices tendingfto separate the jaws, said spring-actuated means including a tilting element interposed in said connections and movable therewith, having one 'end vfulorumed .on said rigid handle member and the other end engaging said pivoted handle member, for holding the latter normally in its inclined position under tension ot the spring; said pivoted handle member being adapted when pressed toward the rigid member to move said element'in opposition to the action otI the spring so as to'tighten the grip ot' the jaws, and said spring being adapted to separate the jaws and restore said element and pivoted handle member to normal position when the pressure on-the latter is released.

3. An |adjustable visewrench comprising in combination with an ordinary `wrench having` jaws and associated adjusting devices tor bringing said jaws together, Aa main handle member rigid withthe shank of the wrench and an auxiliary handle member pi'votcd at one end beside and at an angle to said main handle member, and springactuated means and connections between the same and said adjusting means tending to separate said jaws; said spring-actuated means including` a tilting cross-piece interposed in the Connections between said spring and adjusting means with one end inserted in a. hole in said rigid handle. and the other end engaging the pivoted handle member so as to adapt the spring to hold the latter member normally in an inclinedposition, the latter handle .member being adapted when pressed toward the rigid member to move said cross-piece on its VTulcrnm in opposition to the action .ot the spring `and tighten ithe grip of thejaws,::and said springbeing adaptedA to separate theijaws-and restore said cross-piece and :pivoted handle member to normal position when thepressure on'the ylatteris released. i

a. An adjustable vise wrench comprising a relatively iixed jaw having a shank connecting it with a handle, and a movable jaw slidably secured :on said shank; saidihandle havingl a. main', portion rigid with said shank and ofl'lset theretrom, and an auxiliary handle member pivotally secured to said shank in the'line oii'its longitudinal axis, means tor adjusting said movable jaw along said shank, and spring-actuated means carried by said main portion of the handle in the line ot its longitudinal axis tending to retract said movable jaw andhold said auxiliary handle member normally at an angle to said main portion and alsoco-acting with said auxiliary handle member `after an article has been gripped between the aws by the `action of said adjusting means to impart a slight forward movement to said movable jaw when said auxiliary handle member is forced toward said-main handle portion.

5. An adjustable vise wrench comprising a relatively iixed jaw having a shank connecting it with a handle, and a movable jaw slidably secured onsaid shank; said handle having a main portion rigid with said shank and oiliset therefrom and an auxiliary han.- dle member pivotally secured `at the junction oi said shank with said main portion oi the handle in line with the longitudinal axis ot the shank, means lor adjusting said movable jaw along said shank, and springactuated means connecting said adjusting means with said main portion oit the handle for holding said auxiliary handle member normally at an yangle to said main portion; said spring-actuated means including avtilting element having' a bearing on said auxiliary handle member, whereby aiter an article has been gripped between the vjaws by the action oit said adjusting means a slight forward movement may be ii'nparted to said movable jaw to tightonthe grip on saidl arteile by 'forcing said auxiliaryhandle member towardsaid main handle portion; said sprin-g-actmited means being adapted to retract said movable jaw and restore said auxiliary member to normal position when the auxiliary member is released.

6. An adjustable vise wrench Comprising a relatively lixed jaw having a shank connecting it with a handle, and a movable jaw slidably secured on said shank; said handle having a main portion rigid with said shank and offset therefrom, and an auxiliary member pivotally mounted thereon at one end in the line of tlie'longitudinal axis ot said shank, means arranged in the line ot said oi'liset handle portion tor adjusting said movable aw along said shank, ,and

spring-actuated means arranged in the line of said adjusting means for holding said auxiliary handle member normally` at an angle to said main portion; said springactuated means co-acting with said auxiliaiy handle member to impart a slight forward movement to said movable jaw when said auxiliary handle member is :t'orced toward said main handle portion and to re-k tract said movable jaw and restore said auxiliary member to normal position when the latter member is released.

7. An adjustable vise wrench comprising a relatively fixed jaw having a shank connecting it with a handle, and a movable jaw slidably secured on said shank; said handle having a main poition rigid with said shank and oils-et therefrom and an auxiliary handle member fulcrumed at one end in line with said shank, means for adjusting said movable jaw along said shank, spring-actuated means and connections between the same and said adjusting means tending to separate said jaws and hold sai-d handle members apart and adapted to co-'operate with said auxiliary handlemember to iinpart a. slight forward movement to said movable jaw when said auxiliary handle member is forced toward said main portion; said spring-actiiated means being adapted to retract said movable jaw and force saidk handle members apart when said auxiliary handle member is released.

S. A wrench having jaws and associated" Hadjusting devices tor bringing said jaws toto, and spring-actuated means and connec-y tions between the same and said adjusting means tending to separate said jaws, said spring-actuated means including a` crosspiece interposed in said connections with one end engaging the pivoted handle member, and the other end fulci'umed on said rigid handle member, said pivoted handle membei' being adapted when pressed toward the rigid member to move said cross-piece and adjusting devices in opposition to the action of the spring and tighten the grip ot the jaws, and said spring being adapt-ed to separate the jaws when the pressure on said auxiliary handle member is released.

9. In a wrench, in combination with a relatively fixed jaw having a shank connecting it with a handle member rigid with said shank and a movable aw slidable along said shank together with adjusting devices for bringing the jaws together, a compound lever movement for tightening the grip of the jaws after an article has been initially gripped therebetween; said lever movement comprising a spring tending to retract said together in opposition to the action of the spring.

10. An adjustable vise wrench comprising a relatively iixedand a movable jaw; said fixed jaw having a shank connecting it with a handle member rigid therewith, and said movable jaw slidably secured on said shank, an auxiliary handle member pivoted at one end beside and extending at an angle to said rigid handle member, a rotary device for adjusting said movable aw along said shank with provision to permit a slight loiigitudinal movement of said device with said movable jaw, yieldable means connecting said rigid handle member with said rotary device and tending to separate the jaws, the latter means including a tilting element on which said auxiliary handle member acts as a lever to move said movable jaw toward said fixed jaw when said auxiliary handle member is pressed toward the fixed member, said yieldable means being adapted to separate the jaws when the pressure on said auxiliary handle member is removed.

11. In a wrench, in combination with adjusting devices for bringing the jaws together, a compound lever ino-vement fior tightening' the grip of the jaws comprising a spring and connections between the saine and said adjusting devices tending to separate the jaws, a rocking element interposed in said connections and a handle member serving as a lever acting upon said rocking element to force the jaws together in opposition to the action of the spring; said rocking element consisting of a cross-piece or lever located between said spring-actuated means and rsaid movable jaw-adjusting means, and having on vone side, at oppositie ends thereof, two bearing points, and on the other side an intermediate bearing point engaging a member of said adjusting means said bearing points being all arranged directly in the same line.

12. An adjustable vise wrench comprising a main handle member rigid with the shank of a relatively fixed jaw, a movable jaw slidably supported on said shank, means 'for adjusting said jaws so as to grip an article therebetween, an auxiliary handle member pivotally secured at onev end beside said main handle member in the line of the longitudinal axis of said shank, and springactuated means connecting said adjusting means with said main handle member 'for retracting said movable jaw, said connecting means including an element having a bearing on said main and auxiliary handle members, whereby pressure on the latter member will tighten the grip of the jaws on an article after it has been gripped by the action of said adjusting means.

13. A vise wrench comprising in combination a relatively iXed jaw having a shank connecting it with a rigid handle member, a movable jaw slidable along said shank, a screw :tor adjusting said movable j aw, an auxiliary handle member pivoted at one end in the line of said shank, and means for tightening the grip of said jaws a't'ter an article has been gripped therebetween by actuating said screw; said means comprising a rod slidably mounted on said rigid handle member, a spring on said rod abutting at one end against a iixture on said rigid handle member through which said rod protrudes and at the other end against a nut or collar liXed on said rod, the latter having one end pivoted to a slidable rod or bar having yoke-arms between which is placed a tilting element ulcrumed at one end on said rigid handle member and at the other end on said pivoted handle member, and a bearing member between said tilting element and said screw slidably iitted upon said rigid handle member and having a pointed end bearing against said tilting element intermediate its length and having a socket in the other end thereof in which is fitted a stud projecting from the adjacent end of said screw.

In testimony whereof Iailix my signature.

ARTHUR B. FAULKNER. 

